Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Every child deserves a great childhood.Every individual deserves to be safe.These are basic human rights.These are things we can agree.

But if you’re not abusing or neglecting your own children –
or if you or a family member has never been sexually assaulted – you may be
thinking the ‘prevention message’ isn’t relevant to you.And with our increasingly busy schedules you
may be wondering how you can have the time or expertise to prevent child abuse
and sexual assault.

Your questions and reservations are valid.Your intentions are good.You are compassionate and caring and make
every effort to help those in need. So how can you make a difference when you
are already stretched thin and unsure how to help?

It is the goal of Tahoe SAFE Alliance to educate and empower
our community and bring everyday consciousness to the prevention of domestic
violence, sexual violence, and child abuse.Having a month dedicated to awareness and prevention is a start but
having prevention interwoven into the fabric of our daily rhythms empowers each
individual to have an impact.

The first thing we can all do to prevent child abuse and
sexual violence is be aware of the facts.One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before their
18th birthday; only 10% of abuse is by a stranger which means it’s
someone inside a family’s network.And,
as our children grow up and go off to school their chance of rape and sexual
assault increases; one in 5 girls will be sexually assaulted while in
college.Again, 80% of all sexual
assaults are by someone the victim knows.

While these numbers are staggering, there are things you can
do right now to make a difference.Here
are five prevention tips and resources that will help you make an impact today:

2. Pay
attention to parents around you and offer practical kindness.Your compassion may provide the crucial pause
a frazzled parent needs to keep calm.This is especially true for new parents.

3. Talk to your
children about the 5 body safety rules that every child should know before age
5.If you need a refresher or tips
on how to have this conversation, a great resource is www.mamabeareffect.org

4. Talk to
your teen, both male and female, about sex and sexual assault.While this conversation is stressful for many
parents, it is important to keep this an on-going dialogue.Topics should include age of consent, drugs
and alcohol, trusting your gut, sexual assault and violence within a
relationship, and ensuring them it’s not their fault if they experience a
sexual assault.Great resources include www.loveisrespect.org, www.rainn.org.

5. Believe
children if they disclose to you.Even
if they are not your own.A common
reaction is denial but it is important to listen, be non-judgmental, and respect
what the child is saying.If it is a
teen or adult that discloses, let them know it was not their fault and give
them the number to a local Sexual Assault Agency.For 8 tips on what to do if a child discloses
abuse go to: http://www.speakupbesafe.org/parents/disclosures-for-parents.pdf

As you strive to create great childhoods for those in your
own family, don’t neglect the childhoods in bloom all around you.Together we can prevent child abuse and
sexual assault in our community.